Dan Simmons Anyone?

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kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
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Spokane, WA
I wanted to be the first to start a thread about the wonderful, very talented writer Dan Simmons! I know that there's lots of us on here who have enjoyed his works. I just came back from a trip to Seattle to meet him at his book signing (for his newest novel 'The Abominable') at Third Place Books this past week. This is the fifth time I have met him. He has written in pretty much every genre of fiction, be it horror, suspense and thriller and has mastered each one! Stephen King has called Simmon's horror novel 'Summer Of Night' the 'best horror novel in the last five years (1991), it is surely one of the best three'. King is quoted as saying 'I am in awe of Dan Simmons.' Simmon's 1st novel 'Song Of Kali' made me want to never visit Calcutta, ever! He has won numerous awards, both in the sci-fi genre and the horror genre. His last four novels 'The Terror, Drood, Black Hills and Flashback' have all been bestsellers, so he is finally getting the recognition for his writings that he has deserved for many years. His first short story 'The River Styx Runs Upstream' was voted best short story by Twilight Zone magazine when it was submitted. If you need a new author to read I don't think you can go wrong with Simmons!
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Simmons is pretty damn impressive. Highly recommend his collection Lovedeath also.

Carrion Comfort gave me the piss shivers too.
Carrion Comfort is one of my all-time favorite horror/suspense novels! I have the Dark Harvest edition which I take with me every time Simmon's does a reading/signing tour. So far he has signed it five times over the years. It's become a tradition with us! He's also drawn little doodles of creatures four times. Last week when he was signing it he said 'This one's going to be worth alot of money if I become famous and die.' He laughed. I told him that wasn't my intent! I had a small suitcase filled with his books which he very graciously signed each one for me. I waited till almost everyone had gone thru the line to get their books signed and let a few people in front of me as I didn't want to hold them up while he signed my books. he's a great guy, if you ever get the chance to see him DO IT!
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
I never read him before. What book would you recommend for a first timer?
You could start with his first novel 'Song Of Kali'. I usually recommend 'Carrion Comfort' also, but it's a big, thick book and some folks don't want ot delve into a big book their first time with a new author. 'Summer Of Night' would be a good place also. Be forewarned tho' he pulls a 'Hitchcock' in it! Those are horror books. If you want something more mainstream try 'Darwin's Blade' or his thrillers 'Hardcase','Hard Freeze' and 'Hard As Nail's'- they are his detective books.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Yes -- a big fan. Summer of Night would be a good one to start with. I recently finished The Abominable, which is great. I wrote the appreciation of him for the World Horror Convention programme book, where he was named Grand Master, earlier this year.
Hey, Bev, I will have to see if I can locate a copy of that! Sounds cool!
 

days be strange

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Dec 31, 2011
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You could start with his first novel 'Song Of Kali'. I usually recommend 'Carrion Comfort' also, but it's a big, thick book and some folks don't want ot delve into a big book their first time with a new author. 'Summer Of Night' would be a good place also. Be forewarned tho' he pulls a 'Hitchcock' in it! Those are horror books. If you want something more mainstream try 'Darwin's Blade' or his thrillers 'Hardcase','Hard Freeze' and 'Hard As Nail's'- they are his detective books.
I'll be on the lookout next time I go to the book store.
 

jacobtlong

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Jun 13, 2008
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Admittedly, I haven't really read a lot of Dan Simmons. He seems like an author I should like, but I haven't really pursued his novels. I tried The Terror and Summer of Night, but I never really finished them. Not because they weren't interesting, but just because I had so much other stuff on my plate at the time.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Anyone check out the Hyperion books? I'm not a big sci-fi fan but I've read nothing but praise for them (and it is Dan after all).
I have read the first 2 Hyperion novels (they ARE great, although I am not a sci-fi fan) and the third one in the series, Endymion, but lost interest after that. Simmons has created one of the most terrifying creatures in fiction (the Shrike) and has an amazing plot line for this series of books. If anyone reading this is a fan of sci-fi and hasn't read these books, you really ought to.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
My favorite Dan Simmons books are The Terror, Drood, The Abominable and Song of Kali. I've read a few of his that I didn't like, though.

John
You're right, John, not all of his novels are great. I really didn't enjoy Fires In Eden very much- maybe it just wasn't what I was expecting? But, the man does know how to tell a good story.